Dhananjaya, Mathews weather Afridi storm

• Sri Lanka finish on 242-6 in absorbing first day

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews weathered the storm of fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to hit half-centuries as Sri Lanka fought back from 54-4 before lunch to finish on 242-6 at close on a rain shortened day one of the first cricket Test against Pakistan at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Afridi (3/63) was the star for Pakistan with the ball and De Silva (94*) for Sri Lanka with the bat in a high-octane day of Test cricket.

Afridi making a comeback to Test cricket after a year’s absence from injury made an immediate impact to claim his 100th Test wicket on his way to picking up three wickets as Sri Lanka reeled under a hostile spell of bowling from Pakistan’s new ball bowlers in the morning.

Choosing to bat first after winning the toss Sri Lanka were reduced to 65 for four at lunch with Afridi capturing the first three wickets for 28 runs and his new ball partner Naseem Shah the fourth. Afridi playing in his 26th Test didn’t have to wait long for his landmark wicket striking in his second over by having Nishan Madushka caught behind by Sarfaraz Ahmed for four. The 23-year-old Pakistani star injured his knee at the same venue a year ago.

A short interruption for rain allowed the Pakistani bowlers to freshen up and resume their assault on the hapless Lankan batsmen who were guilty of poor footwork against quality fast bowling.

The very first over after resumption Afridi had Kusal Mendis edging a catch to second slip Agha Salman for 12 and then added the prize wicket of Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne caught down the leg side by Sarfaraz for 29.

Naseem completed an excellent morning for Pakistan by having Dinesh Chandimal caught at second slip smartly by Babar Azam for one.

Mathews and De Silva put on a rescue act with a 131-run fifth wicket partnership to take Sri Lanka to 185-5 in the afternoon session. Just as the pair looked to take Sri Lanka through the session without losing a wicket, Pakistan struck in the final over before the tea break capturing the important wicket of Mathews for 64, his 39th Test half-century.

The former Sri Lanka captain playing in his 105th Test attempted to play the ball through the covers and edged a catch to Sarfaraz giving leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed his first wicket of the innings. He had nine fours in his 109-ball innings.

De Silva and Mathews absorbed the pressure from the fast bowlers and wore down the spinners in the afternoon session. When they were looking comfortable and de Silva started to take on the bowlers with boundaries, Pakistan hit back with Mathews’ wicket.

Before rain returned for the second time De Silva stitched together another useful partnership of 57 with Sadeera Samarawickrama (36), who was out in the last over of the day brilliantly caught at short leg by a diving Inzamam-ul-Haq off spinner Agha Salman for both teams to share the honour.

De Silva batted elegantly with deft cuts, drives and pulls to hold the innings together having so far hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 157-ball innings.  The two interruptions for rain during the day saw 24 overs lost.

Play will commence early at 9.45 a.m. today to catch up on lost time with 98 overs scheduled to be bowled for the day.